Trade statistics for June 2014

* NOTE TO MEDIA: The inclusion of BLNS country trade data was announced on 14 November 2013 and will be included in all future trade statistics

Trade Statistics Including BLNS data

Pretoria, 31 July 2014 - The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics that includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) for June 2014 that recorded a trade deficit of R0.19 billion.

SummaryThe R0.19 billion deficit for June 2014 can be attributed to exports of R80.27 billion and imports of R80.46 billion.

Exports increased from May to June by R2.89 billion (3.7%) and imports decreased from May to June by R4.36 billion (5.1%). The cumulative deficit for 2014 is R48.27 billion compared to R35.57 billion in 2013.

Trade Highlights by Category

The month-on-month export movements:

R’ million

Section:

Including BLNS:

Vehicles & Transports Equipment

+ R2 593

42.0%

Vegetable Products

+ R1 313

32.7%

Precious Metals & Stones

+ R1 042

9.8%

Chemical Products

+ R 724

15.1%

Base Metals

+ R 523

5.0%

Mineral Products

- R3 383

16.7%

The month-on-month import movements:

R’ million

Section:

Including BLNS:

Mineral Products

- R6 000

26.7%

Vehicles & Transport Equipment

+ R 674

8.9%

Base Metals

+ R 563

15.1%

Machinery & Electronics

+ R 518

2.8%

Trade Highlights by World Zone

The world zone results for May 2014 to June 2014 as given below.

Africa: The surplus increased from R13 483 million in May 2014 to R14 547 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R 22 million to R24 953 million and imports decreased by R1 043 million to R10 406 million.

America: The deficit decreased from R1 681 million in May 2014 to R1 513 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R 368 million to R7 411 million and imports increased by R 201 million to R8 924 million.

Asia: The deficit decreased from R16 095 million in May 2014 to R10 722 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R1 177 million to R24 813 million and imports decreased by R4 195 million to R35 536 million.

Europe: The deficit increased from R6 382 million in May 2014 to R7 423 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R 4 million to R17 041 million and imports increased by R1 046 million to R24 465 million.

Oceania: The deficit decreased from R 656 million in May 2014 to R 237 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R 263 million to R 838 million and imports decreased by R 156 million to R1 075 million.

Trade Statistics Excluding BLNS data

* NOTE TO MEDIA: A comparison of Trade Statistics EXCLUDING BLNS data is also provided to the media and the public, which was how monthly trade statistics were issued previously. This is done for the sake of transparency.

The trade data excluding BLNS for June 2014 recorded a trade deficit of R8.18 billion.

Summary

The R8.18 billion deficit for June 2014 can be attributed to exports of R70.09 billion and imports of R78.27 billion.

Exports increased from May to June by R3.44 billion (5.2%) and imports decreased from May to June by R4.72 billion (5.7%). The cumulative deficit for 2014 is R97.77 billion compared to R74.89 billion in 2013.

Trade Highlights by Category

The month-on-month export movements:

R’ million

Section:

Excluding BLNS:

Vehicles & Transports Equipment

+ R2 451

50.2%

Vegetable Products

+ R1 331

38.2%

Precious Metals & Stones

+ R1 098

10.8%

Chemical Products

+ R 790

20.2%

Base Metal

+ R 439

4.5%

Mineral Products

- R3 163

17.2%

The month-on-month import movements:

R’ million

Section:

Excluding BLNS:

Mineral Products

- R5 992

26.7%

Vehicles & Transports Equipment

+ R 651

8.7%

Base Metals

+ R 542

15.0%

Machinery & Electronics

+ R 508

2.8%

Chemical Products

-R 506

6.6%

Trade Highlights by World Zone

The world zone results for May 2014 to June 2014 as given below.

Africa: The surplus increased from R4 581 million in May 2014 to R6 561 million in June 2014. Exports increased by R 576 million to R14 775 million and imports decreased by R1 403 million to R8 214 million